Looking at the best rock band of the last decade as we near the end is a very difficult task. A lot of it will come down to a matter of personal preferences and musical tastes. After all, we could draw from the pop music charts, or we could go with a band that’s more indie in roots.
I’m going to list a few that I believe to be right at the top of this list, before choosing my ultimate band of the decade. Yours will very likely be different than mine, but that’s what makes music as great as it is.
I can remember the impact that the White Stripes had at the beginning of the decade. Their music sounded much more like Zeppelin than Nirvana, and it was refreshing to hear some new bands with the classic rock influences that I love.
Most notably, they spearheaded the whole garage rock movement and many bands followed suit. More importantly, they produced a handful of quality records throughout the decade and the two of them have a sound that’s richer than bands with give and more members. The White Stripes get a nod for innovating music that’s simplistic in its roots.
Another obvious contender is Radiohead. While the band became very popular during the previous decade, they became even more well respected during the past ten years.
Each Radiohead album has been a unique experience, with innovation being the key factor here. Radiohead sounds absolutely nothing like the band did in the’90s, and critics and fans have enjoyed every bit of the band’s music.
While the White Stripes and Radiohead have been hugely successful, Wilco has enjoyed its own success on just as large a scale. This band has produced a wealth of great music during the decade, and its story is just as interesting.
Wilco is a figurehead in the indie rock movement, as their story couldn’t be more pure. Having dropped their record label after the company thought Wilco’s record was too experimental, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot enjoyed enormous critical success when released, and many call it one of the best albums of the decade.
It’s really hard to name just one band as the best of the decade, but Wilco gets it in my mind.
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